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Month: October 2017

Man admits role in Kansas baseball bat robbery, murder

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Ford-photo Shawnee Co.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a man has pleaded guilty to a baseball bat killing in a downtown Topeka apartment.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that 37-year-old Arthur Lee Ford IV pleaded guilty Tuesday to a reduced charge of intentional second-degree murder in the December killing of 52-year-old Mark Everett Johnson. Ford initially was charged with felony first-degree murder. He also admitted to aggravated burglary.

The prosecution says Ford entered Johnson’s apartment, stole his bank card and his identification, and killed the victim. The coroner testified previously that Johnson died from blunt force injuries to his head. He also was stabbed three times.

An ATM security camera showed Ford using the victim’s bank debit card after his slaying.

Sentencing is set for Nov. 30. He faces more than two decades in prison.

Latest KVA rankings

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TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas Volleyball Association is pleased to announce the 2017 Week 5 Volleyball Rankings. This week’s rankings reflect the new 2017-18 KSHSAA classifications, as well as information that was submitted by Monday, October 2.

Class 6A
1. Olathe Northwest 20-3 (3)
2. Olathe North 20-4 (4)
3. Blue Valley North 20-5 (1)
4. Blue Valley West 22-4 (2)
5. Manhattan 18-7 (5)
6. Washburn Rural 16-4 (6)
7. Lawrence 15-6 (7)
8. Lawrence-Free State 21-7 (9)
9. Shawnee Mission Northwest 22-10 (10)
10. Blue Valley 13-10 (8)

Class 5A
1. St. James Academy 22-4 (1)
2. Lansing 21-2 (2)
3. Newton 24-4 (4)
4. De Soto 22-3 (3)
5. Maize 23-6 (5)
6. Goddard 20-2 (6)
7. St. Thomas Aquinas 15-10 (7)
8. Andover 20-7 (8)
9. Maize South 17-9 (7 in 4A Div 1)
10. Pittsburg 23-6 (10)

Class 4A – Division 1
1. Rose Hill 26-0 (1)
2. Louisburg 20-6 (2)
3. McPherson 23-4 (4)
4. Basehor-Linwood 18-8 (3)
5. Abilene 17-6 (6)
6. Independence 23-1 (8)
7. Hays 17-5 (9)
8. Bishop Miege 4-14 (5)
9. Ulysses 21-7 (10)
10. Chanute 18-7 (NR)

Class 4A – Division 2
1. Topeka-Hayden 18-6 (1)
2. Concordia 24-4 (2)
3. Wichita-Trinity Academy 20-2 (4)
4. Nickerson 22-4 (5)
5. Andale 20-6 (6)
6. Burlington 22-4 (3)
7. Santa Fe Trail 19-5 (7)
8. Holcomb 15-6 (8)
9. Chapman 15-6 (9)
10. Hugoton 16-10 (NR)

Class 3A
1. Kingman 30-1 (1)
2. Silver Lake 25-4 (2)
3. Thomas More Prep-Marian 25-1 (4)
4. Hesston 17-2 (3)
5. Nemaha Central 25-1 (5)
6. Douglass 16-2 (6)
7. Beloit 24-4 (9)
8. Cheney 19-4 (7)
9. St. Marys 21-5 (NR)
10. Garden Plain 13-7 (8)

Class 2A
1. Heritage Christian 24-4 (1)
2. Goessel 27-0 (1 in 1A Div 1)
3. St. Mary’s-Colgan 21-3 (2)
4. Plainville 19-2 (3)
5. Kiowa County 21-2 (4)
6. Inman 22-5 (5)
7. Udall 23-0 (6)
8. Olpe 21-5 (4 in 1A Div 1)
9. Smith Center 23-7 (7)
10. Valley Heights 18-7 (9)

Class 1A – Division 1
1. Centralia 25-1 (2)
2. Sylvan-Lucas 23-1 (2 in 1A Div 2)
3. South Central 20-2 (3)
4. Hanover 22-7 (5)
5. Thunder Ridge 21-3 (6)
6. Valley Falls 21-6 (8 in 2A)
7. Rural Vista 19-4 (8)
8. Pretty Prairie 17-4 (10)
9. Washington County 15-6 (NR)
10. Frankfort 18-7 (NR)

Class 1A – Division 2
1. Wheatland-Grinnell 20-1 (1)
2. Argonia 18-5 (3)
3. Otis-Bison 19-7 (4)
4. Beloit-St. John’s/Tipton 19-6 (7 in 1A Div 1)
5. Northern Valley 11-6 (5)
6. South Barber 15-8 (9 in 1A Div 1)
7. Cunningham 16-8 (10)
8. Logan 16-7 (6)
9. Attica 14-10 (7)
10. Ingalls 15-7 (8)

Irma Herl

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Irma Herl, 82, Hays, died Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at Hays Medical Center.
 
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, October 7, 2017 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 215 W. 13th, with Fr. Fred Gatschet officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Friday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Saturday all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street.  A parish vigil service will be at 6:30 pm Friday at the funeral home.

A complete obituary will follow. 

Two-way traffic now opened on 8th St. between Milner & Vine; Phase 4 underway

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CITY OF HAYS

Effective immediately, 8th Street between Milner and Vine Street has been opened to two-way traffic.

The reconstruction of 8th Street has moved into Phase 4, which allows traffic to move in both directions.

Eastbound traffic remains in the south lane and westbound traffic is allowed in the center lane. The north lane remains closed to traffic as the contractor finishes up sidewalk and other work behind the north curb line.

All businesses on both sides of 8th Street have new driveways and full access to 8th Street.

This traffic control configuration is scheduled to last through the remainder of the project. The entire project should be complete by the end of November.

Signs are in place to direct the traveling public. Motorists should use caution through the construction zone.

The city of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please call the Public Works Department at 785-628-7350 or the contractor, Morgan Brothers Construction at 785-432-3104 or 785-394-1777.

Options’ Purple Light Night set for Thursday at Big Creek Crossing

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By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

From 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Options will host its second-annual Purple Light Night at Big Creek Crossing.

The location has been changed to the mall due to inclement weather.

The free event will serve as a family activity night as well as an attempt to bring awareness to the issue of domestic violence.

Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services provides personal, medical, court, law enforcement, youth/child and parent/child advocacy, as well as crisis intervention, a safe shelter, counseling, support groups, community education and a 24-hour Helpline.

Nationally, October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Purple is the color for domestic violence awareness.

Grand Rental Station, Be Made, Taco Shop, PoPt, Breathe Coffee House and McDonald’s have all agreed to be sponsors for the event. The Press will be providing cinnamon rolls and chili for the first 75 people, Trinity Lutheran will provide a game and the Hays Area Children’s Center will have a ball pit for the kids.

Scentsy representative Amanda Long will be present, and a portion of her proceeds will go to Options. There also will be face painting and children’s tattoos, as well as a game for adults.

The chief of police, sheriff and mayor will all speak at the event. For more information on the event, contact Ashley Hecker at Options at (785) 625-4202.

Options’ 24-hour hotline is (800) 794-4624. No appointment is needed to seek Options’ services.

Options is also encouraging people to place purple light bulbs in their outdoor to light up the night for domestic violence during the month of October. The bulbs are available through Options for $2 each.

The program seeks to do three things: support survivors of domestic violence, give hope to people who are still living with abuse and remember victims who lost their lives to domestic violence.

Options has seen a 174 percent increase in domestic violence services in the last year, because in part of a greater awareness of services and the signs of domestic violence, Option officials said.

 

Officials report fall cleanup scam in Kansas

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FINNEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fall cleanup scam and alerting the public.

Officials in Garden City reported a resident called the City Administrative Center Wednesday and said someone went to at least one house approximately 20 minutes after public works crews had completed the annual Fall Cleanup in their area and said he was collecting $25 from each residence for this service, according to a social media report.

Officials in Garden City reminded residents the annual Fall Cleanup is a free service. Any fees incurred due to tire rims or extra tree branches (more than one truckload) will be discussed with residents before they are collected. Charges would appear on a utility bill. Public Works employees do not collect fees directly.

If strangers approach you identifying themselves as City Employees, ask to see their City ID badge. If they cannot provide their badge, or if they are asking you for money, please call the Garden City Police Department.

KSHSAA releases football districts for the next two seasons

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TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas State High School Activities Association has released district football assignments for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

Class 6A
East – Gardner-Edgerton, Kansas City-J.C. Harmon, Kansas City-Wyandotte, Olathe-East, Olathe-North, Olathe-Northwest, OlatheSouth, Overland Park-Blue Valley, Overland Park-Blue Valley North, Overland Park-Blue Valley Northwest, Overland ParkBlue Valley West, Shawnee Mission East, Shawnee Mission North, Shawnee Mission Northwest, Shawnee Mission South, Shawnee Mission West.

West – Derby, Dodge City, Garden City, Haysville-Campus, Hutchinson, Junction City, Lawrence, Lawrence Free-State, Manhattan, Topeka, Topeka-Washburn Rural, Wichita-East, Wichita-North, Wichita-South, Wichita-Southeast, Wichita-West

Class 5A
East – De Soto, Kansas City-F.L. Schlagle, Kansas City-Sumner Academy, Kansas City-Turner, Kansas City-Washington, Lansing, Leavenworth, Lenexa-St. James Academy, Olathe-West, Overland Park-Blue Valley Southwest, Overland Park-St. Thomas Aquinas, Shawnee-Mill Valley, Tecumseh-Shawnee Heights, Topeka-Highland Park, Topeka-Seaman, Topeka-West

West – Andover, Emporia, Goddard-Eisenhower, Great Bend, Hays, Liberal, Maize, Maize-South, Newton, Salina-Central, SalinaSouth, Valley Center, Wichita-Bishop Carroll, Wichita-Heights, Wichita-Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Wichita-Northwest

Class 4A
East – Altamont-Labette County, Atchison, Baldwin, Basehor-Linwood, Bonner Springs, Chanute, Eudora, Fort Scott, Kansas CityPiper, Louisburg, Ottawa, Paola, Pittsburg, Shawnee Mission-Bishop Miege, Spring Hill, Tonganoxie

West – Abilene, Andover-Central, Arkansas City, Augusta, Buhler, Coffeyville-Field Kinley, El Dorado, Goddard, Independence, McPherson, Mulvane, Rose Hill, Towanda-Circle, Ulysses, Wellington, Winfield

Class 3A
District 1 – Baxter Springs, Caney Valley, Columbus, Frontenac, Galena, Parsons
District 2 – Burlington, Garnett-Anderson County, Girard, Iola, LaCygne-Prairie View, Osawatomie
District 3 – Kansas City-Bishop Ward, Meriden-Jefferson West, Perry-LeCompton, Santa-Fe Trail, Topeka-Hayden, Wellsville
District 4 – Hiawatha, Holton, Hoyt-Royal Valley, Marysville, Sabetha, Wamego
District 5 – Chapman, Clay Center Community, Halstead, Hesston, Lindsborg-Smoky Valley, St. George-Rock Creek
District 6 – Andale, Cheney, Clearwater, Haven, Wichita-Collegiate, Wichita-Trinity Academy
District 7 – Holcomb, Hugoton, Kingman/Cunningham, Larned, Nickerson, Pratt
District 8 – Beloit, Colby, Concordia, Goodland, Russell, Scott Community

Class 2A
District 1 – Arma-Northeast, Cherokee-Southeast, Erie, Humboldt, Mound City-Jayhawk Linn, Riverton
District 2 – McLouth, Osage City, Oskaloosa, Pomona-West Franklin, Richmond-Central Heights, Silver Lake
District 3 – Atchison-Maur Hill Mt. Academy, Easton-Pleasant Ridge, Effingham-Atchison County, Horton, Seneca-Nemaha Central, Wathena-Riverside
District 4 – Council Grove, Eskridge-Mission Valley, Gypsum-SE of Saline, Rossville, Riley County, St. Marys
District 5 – Belle Plain, Cherryvale, Douglass, Eureka, Fredonia, Neodesha
District 6 – Anthony-Harper/Chaparral, Conway Springs, Hutchinson-Trinity Academy, Garden Plain, Whitewater-Remington, Wichita-The Independent
District 7 – Cimarron, Ellinwood, Kismet-Southwestern Heights, Lakin, Lyons, Sterling
District 8 – Ellsworth, Hays-TMP, Hoisington, Minneapolis, Norton Community, Phillipsburg

Class 1A
District 1 – Pittsburg-St. Marys Colgan, Pleasanton, Uniontown, Yates Center
District 2 – Hillsboro, Leon-Bluestem, Marion, Olpe
District 3 – Jackson Heights, Lyndon, Troy, Winchester-Jefferson County North
District 4 – Allen-Northern Heights, Blue Rapids-Valley Heights, Centralia, Wabaunsee
District 5 – Belleville-Republic County, Brookville-Ell Saline, Salina-Sacred Heart, Smith Center
District 6 – Ellis, La Crosse, Oakley, Plainville
District 7 – Inman, Meade, Sedgwick, Sublette
District 8 – Elkhart, Johnson-Stanton County, Syracuse Class

8-Man – Division I
District 1 – Burden-Central, Cedar Vale/Dexter, Howard-West Elk, Oswego, Rosalia-Flint Hills, Sedan,
District 2 – Attica/Argonia, Caldwell, Coldwater-South Central, Medicine Lodge, Oxford, Udall,
District 3 – Burlingame, Cottonwood Falls-Chase County, Lebo, Madison/Hamilton, Shawnee-Maranatha Christian Academy, Valley Falls
District 4 – Bennington, Canton-Galva, Goessel, Herington, Peabody-Burns, Solomon,
District 5 – Claflin-Central Plains, Little River, Macksville, Moundridge, Pratt-Skyline, St. John-Hudson,
District 6 – Greensburg-Kiowa County, Jetmore-Hodgeman County, Kinsley, Montezuma-South Gray, Ness City, Spearville,
District 7 – Clifton Clyde, Hill City, Lincoln, Stockton, Victoria, Washington County
District 8 – Atwood-Rawlins County, Hoxie, Leoti-Wichita County, Oberlin-DeCatur Community, St. Francis, WaKeeney-Trego Community,

Class 8 Man – Division II
District 1 – Buffalo-Altoona Midway, Chetopa, Colony-Crest, Leroy-Southern Coffey County, Moran-Marmaton Valley, St. Paul
District 2 – Hartford, Lost Springs-Centre, Melvern-Marais Des Cygnes Valley, Rural Vista, Wakefield, Waverly
District 3 – Axtell, Frankfort, Hanover, Highland-Doniphan West, Onaga, Randolph-Blue Valley, Wetmore
District 4 – Beloit-St. John’s/Tipton, Downs-Lakeside, Linn, Mankato-Rock Hills, Scandia-Pike Valley, Southern Cloud, Tescott
District 5 – Almena-Northern Valley, Kensington-Thunder Ridge, Logan/Palco, Osborne, Sylvan Grove, Wilson,
District 6 – Dighton, Grainfield-Wheatland/Grinnel, Quinter, Sharon Springs-Wallace County, Tribune-Greeley County, WinonaTriplains/Brewster
District 7 – Burrton, Hutchinson-Central Christian, Kiowa-South Barber, Langdon-Fairfield, Norwich, Pretty Prairie, South Haven,
District 8 – Bucklin, Chase, Ingalls, Minneola, Otis-Bison, Satanta, Stafford

Effort Continues To Block Saltwater Injection Wells in Kan. Flint Hills

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By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN

The fight over an oil-related waste disposal well in Kansas’ Flint Hills has broadened into a campaign to protest similar wells across several counties and lobby lawmakers for regulatory changes.

Flint Hills residents presented testimony from James Aber, Emporia State University professor emeritus of geology, seated at front, in their previous effort to block an injection well request.
CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE

Last month residents of Chase, Morris and other counties known for their rolling topography, open pastures and tallgrass ecology lost their effort to block operation of a saltwater injection well near Strong City and the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.

Related story: Kansas regulators approve oil company’s Flint Hills injection well request

Matfield Green resident Cindy Hoedel, one of those who opposed the Morris County well, said petitioners will not appeal the decision issued Sept. 21 by the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC), the state’s energy-regulating body.

Doing so would be “fruitless,” she said. “I don’t think there’s any chance that they would change their minds.”

But, she said, residents are scouring local newspapers for legally required public notices for plans of additional wastewater disposal wells across several counties.

“It’s our full intention to fight every one of them,” Hoedel said.

They already have filed protest letters against another application for saltwater injection — this one near Hamilton in Greenwood County south of Emporia.

See the application for a saltwater injection well in Greenwood County.

Robert Vincze, an attorney representing Quail Oil & Gas, which will operate the Morris County well, said the protesters’ decision not to appeal is “good news.”

“We believe that it was a good result for all involved,” he said of the recent KCC order.

Vincze had argued to the KCC during an August hearing that Quail’s application met all the state’s criteria and protesters failed to give any valid reasons for rejecting it.

Read the transcript of the August hearing at the Kansas Corporation Commission.

The KCC ultimately agreed.

Saltwater injection

Energy companies use saltwater injection wells to dispose of wastewater churned up in the course of producing oil and natural gas. The liquid is primarily brine but also can contain chemicals.

Saltwater injection wells are commonly confused with fracking — a technique of injecting water and chemicals into the earth to extract natural gas or oil — but the processes are different. The U.S. Geological Survey says a proliferation of wastewater disposal wells is behind the spike in earthquakes that have rattled Oklahoma and south-central Kansas in recent years.

During an August hearing at the Kansas Corporation Commission, Quail Oil manager Wray Valentine, middle background, answers cross-examination questions at the witness stand while, from left, Matfield Green resident Cindy Hoedel, geologist Lee Shobe and attorney Robert Vincze listen.
CREDIT CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE

Since 2008, more than 5,000 temblors strong enough for people to feel have struck Kansas and Oklahoma.

The U.S. Geological Survey has responded with annual seismicity reports, the most recent of which concluded that parts of the region now face risks similar to those in earthquake-prone California.

At the same time, geologists say most saltwater injection wells are not linked to earthquakes. The Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association also points to such findings in industry-funded research.

Geologists say the risk for a given well to trigger quakes depends on factorsincluding proximity to faults and other geological characteristics, as well as daily injection volumes and pressurization.

Morris, Chase and surrounding counties do not have a history of temblors with local epicenters, but residents of the area have been able to feel the shaking from quakes that strike farther south.

Some fear that oil and gas operators will install more wells in their region after the KCC capped daily disposal volumes in south-central Kansas to stem the quakes there — a measure that appeared to have effect. They worry the advent of more wells would trigger epicenters in their direct vicinity or that faulty wells or unscrupulous wastewater disposal practices could contaminate groundwater.

In the Quail Oil case, the KCC concluded it can only act in limited circumstances, including “to prevent or avoid the immediate danger to the public health, safety or welfare,” and that the protestors hadn’t proven such a danger, either regarding earthquakes or water contamination.

Current operations

The Quail Oil well will not set precedent in the Flint Hills. Morris and its neighboring counties already have scores of active saltwater injection wells.

Quail Oil, a company with a Garden City post office box address, received permission to dump up to 5,000 barrels of wastewater a day.

Vincze argued 5,000 barrels was not a large volume compared to wells in south-central Kansas that can dump thousands more barrels per day. Some can dump more than three times as much.

However, Flint Hills residents presented testimony from James Aber, Emporia State University professor emeritus of geology, suggesting further proliferation of saltwater wells in the area ultimately could trigger quakes, as eventually happened in Oklahoma and south-central Kansas, because the area is riddled with faults.

The KCC decision has the grassroots group of Flint Hills protesters planning to seek regulatory changes through the Kansas Legislature.

Hoedel said her concern is that no agency in Kansas is tasked with proactively guarding the state, its residents and property owners against activities that cause earthquakes. She and others argue the KCC only capped wastewater disposal in south-central Kansas after temblors had become frequent.

“We don’t find it a satisfactory answer to drill, cause damage and then try to mitigate the damage,” Hoedel said.

In May, 30 state lawmakers — 28 Democrats and two Republicans — wrote to the KCC expressing concern about Quail Oil’s Morris County well. They urged the body to “err on the side of caution,” lest the Flint Hills begin to see temblors, too.

“Man-induced earthquakes are a relatively new phenomenon,” they wrote. “What is the tipping point of risk?”

Read the letter to the KCC from 30 Kansas lawmakers.

Celia Llopis-Jepsen is a reporter for the Kansas News Service covering health, education and politics. You can reach her on Twitter @Celia_LJ.

Chiefs’ Reid denounces Peters’ profanity directed at fans

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Chiefs coach Andy Reid denounced cornerback Marcus Peters’ direction of profanities at fans during Monday night’s game against Washington, saying “we can’t go in that direction.”

Reid says the situation, which was caught on camera, has “been addressed.” But he declined to say Wednesday what kind of punishment, if any, was meted out and refused to take questions.

Peters was burned for a pair of touchdowns by the Redskins during the Chiefs’ 29-20 victory. After the game, he spoke for about 50 seconds in another profanity-filled exchange with reporters. He called his performance “hella week” before saying he was going to “go get loaded” and leaving the locker room.

Peters drew the ire of some fans for sitting during the national anthem again. He stood for a moment of silence to honor the victims of the Las Vegas shooting.

Participants in Wilson bond tour hear about elementary concerns

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Troy Wade, of the district’s architectural firm, DLR, and members of the Community Vision Team, talk Tuesday night about a proposed $78.5 million USD 489 bond issue.

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

About 50 people gathered at Wilson Elementary School on Tuesday night for a tour and Q &A session related to a proposed Hays USD 489 $78.5 million bond issue.

The cost for the 30-year bond will be $16.43 per month for a $150,000 home.

Teachers talked about the small spaces they have in the Wilson building, about 650 square feet for most of the classrooms.

“Once you get 24 desks in there, it is pretty crowded,” Anita Scheve, Wilson principal, said of the classrooms.

The bond proposal would build two new elementary schools and renovate Roosevelt Elementary School. A new elementary school would be built adjacent to existing Wilson school, and the old school would be torn down when the new school opens. The Wilson pool will remain in place.

John Thissen, USD 489 superintendent, Tuesday says the district has only had $5 million in bonds since the 1980s compared to more than $100 million for some schools the district competes against in athletics.

Scheve said the new classrooms would be closer to 900 square feet and 1,000 square feet for kindergarten.

Some teachers, including Betsy Forinash, have done away with their own desks to make more room for student activities. Her classroom has a sink, which is important for science projects, when it works. Her room had a sewer line break recently while children were in the room, and they had water all over the floor.

Amy Wasinger, an O’Loughlin Elementary teacher and also a member of the Community Vision Team that helped create the bond proposal, said the rooms are not conducive to modern teaching techniques.

The reading workshop encourages students to get on the floor or other comfortable positions to read. The students also are gathered in small groups to work on science and other projects.

Wasinger said there is just nowhere to put the students or files or classroom libraries.

The Wilson boiler is original to the building when it was constructed in 1959. The district can no longer buy parts, and it often keeps rooms as hot as 85 degrees in the middle of the winter.

There is also no common space for children. The gym is also used as a cafeteria and auditorium, which means it is constantly booked. Children have an average of about 12 minutes for lunch due to the tight scheduling for this space.

Wilson elementary was built in 1959 and has the original boiler system. Once the boiler is on for the season, it can’t be shut down. Some rooms are as hot as 85 degrees in the middle of winter.

Wilson also has no storm shelter. Children have to shelter in the hallways, which have skylights. The school has also had problems with these skylights leaking when it rains.

Scott Summers, technology director, said technology has been challenging in the district’s older buildings. The building materials used in 1959 when Wilson was built are not compatible with computer networks. Wilson has to have an Internet connection in each room because the signal will not pass through the walls.

One attendee asked why the district chose to build new elementary schools rather than renovate. Wilson is valued at $5.9 million. The cost to renovate would be $16 million, and a new building will cost $21 million. Based on the value of the building and the cost to renovate compared to the cost of a new building, the architects recommended a new building.

Wilson Elementary School has no storm shelter, and students have to shelter in this hallway, which has skylights. This hallway also has a steep ramp, which makes mobility difficult for students in walkers and wheelchairs.

Amber Beverlin, of the district’s architectural firm, DLR Group, said the district will save about $200,000 per year in operational costs by going from four elementary schools to three. This does not include other savings that can be reaped by eliminating travel between schools for some staff and other efficiencies gained with the new schools.

All three of the elementary schools will be able to accommodate five sections of kindergarten and first grade and four sections of second through fifth grades. This means that the schools will have room for anticipated growth. In the short-term, the district has a goal to reduce class sizes.

At the middle school, the bond would enlarge the cafeteria and add a new gym for physical education. Both facilities at HMS were designed to hold about 300 students. Today, they are serving 700 students. In addition, the kitchen at HMS prepares food for another 400 students at Wilson.

Jessica Younker, nutrition director, said the food service equipment is stored throughout the cafeteria because there is limited storage.

Valerie Wente, Community Vision Team member, said as many as 100 students have to use the gym space at one time for PE. If there are any events scheduled in that space, all those students have to be moved into the hall for their class time.

At the high school, the district will add an auditorium, which had been a dream for the district since the high school was built in 1981. Classrooms will be added and enlarged and the Career Tech Education classrooms will be renovated.

Secure entrances would be added to all schools.

In addition, O’Loughlin Elementary will be renovated to accommodate the Westside Program, Learning Center and the Early Childhood Center.

The district considered breaking the bond into several smaller bonds over time, but Troy Wade of DLR said he district stands to save tens of millions of dollars by doing the 30-year bond. Interest rates are at record lows, which can save the district at least 1 percent. The inflation rate for construction is 3 percent to 5 percent.

Mike Walker, of the Community Vision Team, talks Tuesday night about a proposed $78.5 million USD 489 bond issue.

If the bond does not pass, the problems with the buildings do not go away, and the district does not have enough in capital outlay to address all the issues, Shanna Dinkel, assistant superintendent, said.

The district would have to come back with yet another bond proposal.

Should that happen, Wente said the best scenario is a new bond project would cost millions more. The worst scenario would be a school would have to be closed because of structural or mechanical issues and there would be nowhere to put the students.

Ana Unsworth, a parent who has students in high school and elementary school, said she thought she could get behind the school bond plan.

Members of Nabholz Construction, the construction manager at risk, Paul Wertenberger Cosntruction, and Shanna Dinkel, assistant USD 489 superintendent, talk about the bond construction process. Ground could be broken within a year if the bond passes, and new elementary schools could be open another 12 to 18 months after groundbreaking.

“Will I vote for it? Probably,” she said of the bond. “They have put a lot of good work into it, and they answered all the questions I had and my major questions were put at ease.”

If the bond passes, groundbreaking could occur on the new schools within a year. Construction could take between 12 to 18 months. Some projects would be done simultaneously with the new elementary schools likely being the first projects started and finished.

The deadline to register to vote is Tuesday, Oct. 17. Advance voting is set to start on Oct. 23, and the general election is Tuesday, Nov. 7.

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